u/priyanshumodi

Rank 1 → 160.40 (Sanidhya Kshitij Dongre)

Rank 10 → ~150

Rank 30 → ~143

Rank 100 → ~127

Rank 500 → ~108

Rank 1000 → ~97

Last UR rank visible → ~84–85 (~UR 2300+)

1Which IISERs should I realistically expect at ~150 marks with GEN-EWS?

2Is IISER Pune possible? Some rank predictors are showing around a 50% chance.

3How do IISER and NISER compare overall? Which would you choose and why?

4For a PCB student, are there any major limitations at IISER/NISER?

Campus Life

5This may sound like a small issue, but it's actually important for me: Are Jain food options (without onion and garlic) available in IISERs or NISER hostels/messes?

6If dedicated Jain food isn't available, how do students with similar dietary restrictions manage?

7If you're a Jain student at IISER/NISER, I'd especially love to hear about your experience.

Research & Career Path

8What does the typical path look like after BS-MS from IISER or the integrated MSc from NISER?

9Do most students actually go for a PhD?

10Do most PhD aspirants go abroad, or do many stay in India?

11What is the average PhD stipend in India and abroad?

12After a PhD, what career options are available besides becoming a professor?

13How do placements and industry opportunities compare between IISER and NISER?

14Which institute generally offers better long-term opportunities: IISER or NISER?

Hey guys,

These last 4 days have been pretty distracting for me. As a NEET student, I know this phase is important, but over the last couple of years I've realized that I'm genuinely interested in research and understanding how things work.

From my IAT response sheet, I'm getting around 150 marks. My category is GEN-EWS, and I'm a PCB student (no Mathematics in Class 12).

My section-wise score:

🧬 Biology: 60/60 (Perfect score 😭)

⚗️ Chemistry: 55/60 (Lost 5 marks because of a misclick in the last 13 seconds. The correct option was selected initially but I changed it in panic 😭)

📐 Mathematics: 5/60 (Pure tukka section. As a PCB student I just attempted whatever I could.)

⚡ Physics: 30/60 (Bhagwan na kare na hi aisi Physics phir dekhni pade aur na hi aise marks 💀)

Total: ~150/240

Right now, I would choose MBBS only if I somehow get a top-tier medical college. Otherwise, I'm strongly leaning towards IISER or NISER because research genuinely excites me. I'm the type of person who likes asking "why" and wants to understand things in depth rather than just memorizing them.

I have quite a few questions and would really appreciate guidance from seniors:

Admission-related

1. Which IISERs should I realistically expect at ~150 marks with GEN-EWS?

2. Is IISER Pune possible? Some rank predictors are showing around a 50% chance.

3. How do IISER and NISER compare overall? Which would you choose and why?

4. For a PCB student, are there any major limitations at IISER/NISER?

Campus Life

5. This may sound like a small issue, but it's actually important for me: Are Jain food options (without onion and garlic) available in IISERs or NISER hostels/messes?

6. If dedicated Jain food isn't available, how do students with similar dietary restrictions manage?

7. If you're a Jain student at IISER/NISER, I'd especially love to hear about your experience.

Research & Career Path

8. What does the typical path look like after BS-MS from IISER or the integrated MSc from NISER?

9. Do most students actually go for a PhD?

10. Do most PhD aspirants go abroad, or do many stay in India?

11. What is the average PhD stipend in India and abroad?

12. After a PhD, what career options are available besides becoming a professor?

13. How do placements and industry opportunities compare between IISER and NISER?

14. Which institute generally offers better long-term opportunities: IISER or NISER?

15. Given my score distribution (strong Biology, weak Physics and Maths), would biology-related research fields be a natural fit? How easy is it to move into areas like bioinformatics, computational biology, neuroscience, genetics, etc.?

I'm asking because I want to understand the complete picture before making a decision. If I choose research over medicine, I want to do it with full clarity about the opportunities, challenges, and career path ahead.

Would love to hear from current students, alumni, or anyone who faced a similar choice between MBBS, IISER, and NISER.

Thanks!